Ungrounded power cord: Will I die?
I'm guessing if they have a ground there, it is for a reason. Someone above mentioned it will ground through the interconnects to your other components, and this is not necessarily true. Some equipment has the interconnects isolated from the metal chassis or case. So, don't think this will take care of it. Some equipment may also have a capacitor/capacitors or other semiconductor connected from a hot 120 volt line to help reduce line noise by tying that hot line noise to the ground, or case that had a ground. If any of these parts shorted, there can be a possibility the case will have the full 120 volt line voltage. Plus, any other part mechanical failure can cause a risk, if it happens. If this would happen, you could have 120 volts between this to any ground, or your other equipment right next to this unit, with the ground removed. In other words, yes, 120 volts between your amp and preamp, or any other equipment. Also, to any ground your on, or any other conductive item you may touch. In my opinion, removing any ground wire that was there always has a risk. |
Anyway, I have a 2-prong power cord with a 3-prong IEC female end that came with my Luxman amp. That is just one of the problems with IEC connectors. For some reason here in the USA IEC connectors have next to no safety standard rules/requirements. Only power connector I know of used in the USA that has a piss poor contact pressure connection. Same connector can be used for 120 or 240V applications. You can buy a cord with a 20 amp female IEC connector with a NEMA 5-15P 15 amp plug on the other end. Can't do that with a NEMA 5-20R female cord body and a NEMA 5-15P 15 amp plug on the other end. Definitely can not buy a cord with a 3 wire NEMA 5-15 or 5-20 female receptacle on one end with a two wire plug on the other end..... So basically IEC connectors are not idiot proof because of the lack of a recognized safety standard. You can damn near do anything you want with the thing. Anyway, I have a 2-prong power cord with a 3-prong IEC female end that came with my Luxman amp. That cord should not be allowed to be sold in the USA. Just for the reason of your post. Someone using the cord on a piece of equipment that requires a cord with a safety equipment ground... End result, same thing as using a ground cheater. Why did the designer/manufacture of the DAC power supply decide he wanted a safety equipment ground for his equipment? You could ask them. It could be he didn't want to spend the extra cost for the double insulated power wiring, or maybe it could be a design thing. If you still have the Luxman amp check the back of the unit's IEC male connector. I would bet it only has two blades, the hot and neutral. No safety equipment ground blade. The Luxman amp uses double insulated power wiring inside so it does not need the safety equipment ground. |
. Why did the designer/manufacture of the DAC power supply decide he wanted a safety equipment ground for his equipment I don't believe he did. http://www.wickeddigital.com.au/index.php/shop-by-category-find-a-product-type/product/view/11/281 That is a universal 100-240 switching supply. Since outlets in many countries don't have a 3rd prong for ground it would have to be designed to not need one. . |
The huge number of Audiophiles dying from electrical shocks when they unground some bit of kit is well known. Tens of thousands of well meaning audiophiles have died due to electricution in just the past year!!. The organization: Mothers against audiophile ground lift (Or MAAGL) have been attempting to have legislation passed to stop the carnage. In general millions of needless deaths due to ungrounded electrical equipment every years causes consternation but it seems to be a silent killer, as no one even even sees any comments about it. This is due to the powerful 'Electrical mafia'. Who censor all news about this epidemic. (clearly they are effective, as none of this has been posted before!!) I am here to break the silence about this deadly killer. Unplug now. Use kerosene lamps, Wood stoves! candles. (Better to accedentally burn your house down than take a chance on the deadly scourge of electrocution) Sweat it out in the Summer. End this carnage!! (8^Q... LOL... |
